Zip's Legacy: Kick the habit before it kicks you

“If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.” - Michael Jordan

Adrian Karl Zuber (aka “Zip”) passed away on January 10, 2025 after a decade-long struggle with COPD, heart, and respiratory illnesses resulting from tobacco use.

In his youth, he was an extremely active athlete, ultimately focusing his attention on playing basketball.

Zip attended Shawnee High School, where he was part of the 1964-65 Shawnee High School Championship basketball team in Lima, Ohio. He was described as the lone Junior starter in a senior-dominated starting lineup.

He was awarded a full scholarship to play basketball for Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where he made sport’s history again, playing on the only NCAA team in BGSU’s history. He graduated with an Education degree and went on to obtain a Master's in Education from the University of Dayton.

Throughout his 33-year career as a teacher, coach, and counselor in the Lima Public School system, Zip was known as one of the toughest teachers. Yet, he provided numerous kids with structure and discipline they may not have otherwise received. While he had a tough exterior, his heart was always soft for those in need.

In lieu of flowers or other tribute items, Adrian’s family is seeking to continue his legacy of service by donating in his memory to the American Lung Association’s smoking cessation program.

More than 490,000 people die in the United States each year from tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. This makes smoking the leading cause of preventable death in the country.

We hope that Zip’s legacy will help at least one person break the cycle of addiction.

“Smoking is a handicap to life…. Haven’t you got anything better to do?” - Isiah Thomas and Reggie Theus